POLICE DELAY CRITICISED

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 9

POLICE DELAY CRITICISED

HERMITAGE SHOOTING CASE

“THEORY OF SUICIDE PRECLUDED.”

FAILURE TO CALL EXPERTS EARLY

WHALLEY COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Timaru, June 9.

The hearing of the charge against William John Thomas Whalley of murdering William Edward Wogan at the Hermitage on November 5, 1931, was continued to-day before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when further evidence for the prosecution was heard. Whalley was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Evidence was given to-day by Police Inspector Bird, who was sharply questioned by the magistrate as to the reason for not calling an experienced detective sooner. The magistrate remarked upon the extraordinary length of time between the death and the police activities. “I come fresh into this matter, and it is an extraordinary—l do not want to say bungle; but it is extraordinary.” Witness: Every inquiry that could be made was made by Constable Mackintosh and myself and we reported to Wellington. Evidence ■was given by DetectiveSergeant Young, who said that Whalley made contradictory statements as to where Wogan was when the shot was fired.

Sergeant King, Hokitika, gave evidence regarding Wogan’s non-shooting habits.

Leslie E. Tisdall, director of a Christchurch gunsmith firm, testified regarding experiments with, the rifle, saying that the utmost distance ho could hold the rifle from the side of the head and fire was four and a half inches. At the conclusion the magistrate declared that the theory of suicide was entirely precluded and the same applied to the theory of accidental shooting. He commented on the extraordinary delay in obtaining experts to investigate.